Chapter Fifteen Losses

   Though the palace guards were still on full alert, the mood in the Hylian Castle could not have been better.  King Jax had recovered from his mysterious ailment and would be resuming control of the war from the princess Zelda, who, though she had managed the war effort far better than anyone could have ever expected, it was far more reassuring for the soldiers to have a leader who had once been a great warrior himself.

   "Amazing, isn't it?" Banks smiled as he and Tiggs patrolled the hallways of the castle.  As was to be expected, the corridors were quiet, as the majority of the forces were helping with the war effort.

   "Tell me about it," Tiggs agreed.  "I mean, the princess is great at diplomacy and…talking…and stuff like that, but when it comes to fighting, I'll take King Jax any day.  Y'know, my dad served with him in the war with the Stone King?  True story.  There was this one time he and the king—this was before he was king, naturally—anyway, he and the king…"

   "My brother fought in that last battle," Banks went on, as if he hadn't heard a thing.  "He said seeing the princess lead the charge into that fog was the most incredible thing he ever saw.  Said she was, like, surrounded in this wicked golden light.  Y'know, real magic!  The king's great and all, but man!  Who do you think would win in a fight?"

   "I would have to put my rupees on the princess," a deep, commanding voice said from behind them.  Both men stopped short, standing stiffly at attention.  "After all, the king is getting kind of old."

   Both guards did a sharp about-face and came face to face with King Jax.  He was dressed in fine yet practical clothing, his sword Stonecutter hanging from his waist.  He still carried a cane, but it was more for balance and emergencies than as an actual walking aid.  "Sorry sir!" Banks barked.  "We did not know you were present sir!" Tiggs jabbed a sharp elbow into his ribs, trying to stifle his friend's babbling.  Taking the hint, Banks said, "Meaning had we known we wouldn't have said—ow!—I mean sorry sir!"

   Jax grinned.  "At ease, gentlemen, at ease.  I've never punished anyone for speaking their mind, especially when they're right.  I'm proud to hear that you men think so highly about Zelda.  She will be your queen, after all."

   The guards' fearful looks instantly brightened.  "Thank-you, sir!"  Banks replied.  "And if I may speak freely, it's truly, unbelievably awesome that you're back to normal."  Tiggs rolled his eyes at his friend, but nevertheless nodded enthusiastically.

   The king couldn't help but laugh.  "Thank-you.  It's good to be back.  But now if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a meeting with my daughter and the other rulers.  If you two aren't doing anything, feel free…"

   Jax cut his invitation short, his gaze falling just over Tiggs' shoulder.  The guards turned to see what he was looking at and cringed at the sight.  Scurrying along the floor were hundreds, if not thousands, of spiders, roaches, and other insects.

   "Eeww," Banks groaned, momentarily forgetting etiquette and dignity.  "I thought we traps and exterminators to take care of those."

   "We do," Jax replied grimly, watching as the bugs gathered into several piles on the floor.  Drawing Stonecutter, he looked at Tiggs.  "You…sound the alarm!  Get everyone armed for an attack."  Then to Banks, "You, stay with me.  We must get to the war room!"

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Zelda, the Sages, and General Gustan were gathered around the war room table, a large map of Hyrule spread out over it, little figures placed on it to represent both their and the enemy's army.

   "So as you can see," the general explained, a frown creasing his dark face, "Ganon's forces still outnumber ours, though not as severely as before.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that there is still too many for us to defeat in a head-on battle.  The recruits are performing beyond anything I could have expected, and with the few Gerudo warriors who have come to our aid, we have been able to push them back to the Hylian wall.  Strategically, this is not a wise place for a battle, at least for them, but that is what Rolondrof seems to be planning for.  They have nowhere to retreat, very little area to maneuver such large numbers, and only a few supply lines that far south.  They've essentially dug themselves into a hole."

   "He's taunting us," Zelda observed.  "He's so sure of victory that he thinks he can afford to back himself up like this.  For him, this next battle will be the last, no matter what."

   Darunia nodded in agreement.  "That is the problem.  There is no way for us to defeat them in an all-out attack short of some divine intervention, and if we fall back on the defensive, they'll beat us to the very gates of the city, and by then it will be too late."

   "Rolondrof won't negotiate," Saria added.  "Even though we haven't seen him, Ganon must still be pulling his strings, and the Dark Lord will want nothing short of our complete and utter destruction."

   "So what are you saying?" Ruto asked, anger edging into her voice.  "That there is no hope?  That all we can do is either lead our people to a slaughter or wait for the butcher to come to us?"

   "Realistically, yes," Nabooru answered, taking no offense.  "That is why we must think of something else.  As Sages, we are the most powerful people alive; there must be something we haven't thought of."

   "How 'bout surrender?"

   They all turned at the sharp voice, and saw fifteen armed men and another three Moblins charge into the room, two Iron Knuckles following close behind.  The guards who had been stationed at the doors hung lifelessly from the Moblins' spears.

   With a roar of rage, Darunia took up his heavy Goron battle hammer and charged into their midst, followed quickly by Nabooru and Gustan, both drawing their swords.  Impa ushered Zelda, Saria, Ruto, and Rauru towards the back of the room, heading towards a secret entrance hidden behind a tapestry.  "Come," Impa ordered, her sword held at ready.  "The castle has been overrun!  Rolondrof must have used the same insect spell as before, but in greater numbers.  You must flee to safety!"

   "NO!" Zelda shouted, brushing her aside.  Her arm had not yet healed enough to lift a sword, but she still had her magic, and she used it to send a golden shaft of energy directly into the chest of one of the invading mercs.  "I will not run!" she told her bodyguard as she began firing magic bolts at one of the Iron Knuckles.  Before Impa could do anything to stop them, Saria and Ruto were following, firing green and blue shafts of magic, Rauru adding his own barrage from the air.  Sighing in anger and frustration, Impa raced after them to join the battle.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Jax pulled Stonecutter from the body of one merc only to immediately bring it up to defend against another.  He batted the attack to the side and swung at his attackers neck, separating the head from the body.  Beside him, Banks also managed to fell one of the invaders.  They had been joined by several more palace guards in their battle towards the war room, but in doing so they had also run into more attackers.  Jax had no idea how they had manage to invade the castle disguised as insects, but that was a problem for another time.  Now, his only concern was reaching his daughter.

   A torrent of cries from the rear caused him to look back, and he saw Tiggs accompanied by seven more guards protecting their rear from an approaching mercenary group.  Apparently Tiggs had managed to sound the alarm just in time.

   "How fares the rest of the castle?" Jax asked him as he struck down a lumbering Lizaflos.

   "All the levels below us are clear sir!" Tiggs quickly responded.  "It looks like the brunt of the invasion was focused on the upper levels!"

   Exactly where Zelda was most likely to be, Jax reasoned.  If what Darunia and the others had told him was true, Rolondrof had been greatly humiliated by Zelda on several occasions.  The dark wizard wasn't concerned with Jax or the others; this attack was meant solely for the purpose of killing the princess.

   "Over my dead body," the king swore, and he renewed his attack, charging to the forefront of his guards.  "Battle on, men!" he rallied them, prompting loud yells from the guards and looks of terror from the intruders.  "Battle on!  HYLIA!"

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Very few things could stand up to an enraged Goron, and an Iron Knuckle wasn't one of them.  Darunia had battled the hulking machine for nearly five minutes, but had managed to strike it down, while Nabooru and Gustan took care of the Hylian mercenaries.  Saria, Ruto, and Rauru went to work on the remaining Iron Knuckle, striking at it with their magic, while Impa and Zelda dealt with the Moblins. 

   The first had been no match for the combination of steel and magic, but that strategy had worked only once, and the remaining two Moblins split up and attacked one each.  Impa had managed to keep her foe at bay, but Zelda was having difficulties.  The Moblin was smart enough to attack her close up with his spear, not allowing her enough time to cast any spells.  It was all Zelda could do to dodge the attacks.  She deftly sidestepped to avoid a powerful lunge, and had just enough time to send a bolt of magic at her enemy.  It wasn't powerful enough, however, and only served to knock the beast back a few paces.  Eyes red with rage and foaming at the mouth, the Moblin roared and renewed its attack.

   Zelda risked a glance towards her comrades to see how they were fairing.  Darunia had come to the aid of his fellow Sages and they had managed to fell the Knuckle, and Gustan and Nabooru had aided Impa in defeating her Moblin.  That left only Zelda's foe to be dealt with.  She turned back to face him, magical energy already forming in her hands.

   But she was too slow.  The Moblin dealt her a vicious blow to the chin with the blunt end of his spear, knocking her to the ground.  Dazed and barely conscious, Zelda was able to hear Impa's fearful cry.  Zelda had failed her bodyguard, she believed, had failed all of them.  She had lost the war, and because she had not listened to Impa she was about to lose her life.  Clenching her jaw shut and closing her eyes, she awaited the inevitable killing blow.

   "ZELDA!"

   Her eyes snapped open at her father's voice, afraid that he had also been killed and had joined her in the realm of the dead.  She looked up just in time to see Jax hurl himself over her body, thrusting Stonecutter into the chest of the Moblin.  The beast let out one last cry of pain and tumbled over backwards.  Jax remained standing for several seconds and then crumpled to his knees.

   "DADDY!" Zelda screamed, seeing the spear protruding from the king's stomach.  She yanked the spear out and held her father tightly.  By then the other Sages and the soldiers who had accompanied Jax had gathered round, fighting hard to hold back their tears.

   "Daddy, don't leave me," Zelda whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks.  "Not now, not now…"

   Jax managed to reach a blood stained hand up to her, lovingly stroking her cheek.  "I will always be with you, Zelda…" he croaked, his breath slowing, eyes beginning to glaze over.  "I'll always…be…"

   And with that, Jax, great warrior and first king of a united Hyrule, died.

   And, crowned in grief and sorrow, Queen Zelda was left alone.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Ganon had always prided himself on his ability to be patient, but even so, he was anxious for things to get underway.  Night had fallen over Termina, and the stars had only just begun to appear in the clear evening sky.  The signal would be coming soon, he knew.  His spy within the rebel camp would soon be sending out a keese to inform him and the small army he had brought with him that the time would soon be ripe to attack.  Soon, he would confront Link.

   It had struck him only hours before that, despite the fact that they were mortal enemies, he and Link had only ever met face to face on three occasions.  Once on the night Zelda had escaped him and Link had opened the Door of Time, again when Link had defeated him and banished him to the Sacred Realm, and finally the eve of Ganon's return.  He was amazed that so much hatred could be bred from such little contact, that so much pain could be wrought from a feud between two strangers.

   It pleased Ganon to think while such musings amused him, they must surely be tearing Link apart.  The boy was incredibly responsible, selfless to a fault, and while Ganon cared nothing for these things, he had to give credit where credit was due.  Link had been a worthy adversary.  It was almost a shame that it would all have to end tonight.

   "Sir, sir!" Smitts called to him, eagerly pointing to the sky.  Sure enough, a large black keese could just be seen in the starlight.

   Ganon looked back at his men and grinned.  "All right boys," he told them.  "Let the hunt begin."

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Link smiled when he saw Boomer waiting for him at the far edge of the camp, just beside the docks, where the rebels kept their few little boats.  The teen was sitting on a crate, staring idly out towards the docks.

   "So far, so good," Tatl muttered from her perch on her shoulder.  "Do you actually think this is gonna work.  It's not even any of our business, anyway…"

   "Geez, have a little faith, sis," Tael chastised from Link's other shoulder.  "'Course it's gonna work!  Right Link?"

   "I don't see why not," Link whispered back.  "Now hush up, you two, and let the doctor operate."

   Clearing his throat, Link stepped up to stand beside him.  Boomer glanced up and offered a little smile.  "Hey," he said, returning his gaze to the docks.

   "Hey," Link replied.  He let the words hang for a bit, then dramatically pulled his trench coat around his shoulders.  "Chilly out tonight, isn't it?"

   "Oh, it's not so bad," Boomer muttered absently.

   Link smiled and took a quick look over at the docks, making sure his other piece was still in position.  Seeing that she was, he went on.  "Y'know, back where I come from, there's this story about a man and a woman, lost high up in the Death Mountains.  These two had once been lovers, but time and bad feelings and all that stuff eventually drove them apart.  You know how it is,"

"Yeah," Boomer sullenly agreed.  "I know how it is."

   Link's smile widened.  "Anyway, there was an avalanche one day, and the group they were crossing over the mountains with were all trapped underneath.  Only this one man and this one woman survived.  Naturally, they were pretty steamed about that.  Of all the people to be stuck with, why did they have to be stuck with each other?"

   "Anyway, they figured that they'd rather die alone than together, so they each took separate paths down the mountain.  This right in the dead of winter, you understand, and believe me, those mountains are not a place you want to be at that time of year.  But they were so angry and so bitter with each other that they didn't even care; they figured that if anything, knowing that the other had died would spur the other one on to live."

   Link took a moment to judge Boomer's reaction and saw that his eyes had not left the dock, but that they were starting to water.  "Perfect," Link thought, and continued on with his tale.  "Eventually, however, they couldn't help but get to thinking about how miserable they had been ever since they had parted.  At first they blamed it on each other, but with nothing else to think about, they eventually began to realize that despite each other's faults, despite what they had each said, their break up was nobody's fault but their own.  That the unhappiness they had been feeling was because of their being apart.  Finally, at the exact same moment, they both turn around and head back to where they parted on the mountain, wanting nothing more than to see each other one last time."

   Finally, after several moments of silence, Boomer asked, "And?"

   "And what?"

   "Well, what happened to them?  Did they meet up again?"

   "Oh no," Link stated matter-of-factly.  "They both died long before they could see each other.  The story just came to me because of this cold night."

   Boomer nodded, looking disappointed, and stared once more at the docks.  Still smiling, Link asked, "Why?  Did you see another point to the story?"

   For a long while, Boomer didn't answer.  Finally, he said, "Well, to me, the story is all about love.  Y'know, how nobody ever really plans to fall in love, or who they fall in love with, but it happens just the same.  How, when you find that one special person, everything just seems that much better, that much more complete.  How no matter what may happen with that person, nothing is ever anyone's fault, because in the long run, it doesn't matter; you've still got each other."

   Boomer trailed off after that, falling into his own thoughts.  Smelling blood, Link moved in for the kill.  Looking over towards the docks as if for the first time, he said, "Say…isn't that Romani standing over there?"

   Boomer shrugged.  "Could be."

   "Y'know, I think it is.  Doesn't look like she brought a cloak or a jacket, though.  She must be freezing to death over there, don't you think?"

   "Yeah," Boomer replied absently.  "Must be…" With that, he was on his feet, and before he could say anything, Link had shoved his trench coat into his hands.

   "Why don't you go give her this," he grinned.  "I'm not all that cold after all."

   Without another word, Boomer turned and headed towards the dock at a steady jog.  Tatl waited a while before saying, "You've been thinking up that story all day, haven't you?"

   "Oh no," Link answered, watching as Boomer neared the docks.  "It's actually a story where I come from.  Except in the end the couple found each other and live happily ever after.  I just thought my ending drove the point home."

   "Well, we'll see if it works."

   "'Course it will, sis!  Just watch."

   And the three of them did.  They watched as Boomer gingerly stepped out onto the docks, Romani turning to face him.  He hesitantly stepped up to her and draped the coat over her shoulders.  She turned away from him, refusing to look at his face.  They stood there several minutes, apparently talking, and finally she turned to face him.  They stepped closer to each other but a few seconds later she turned her head away again.  Tatl sighed.  "It was a good intention, Link.  Foolish and sentimental, but…"

   "Wait a second…" Link interrupted, keeping his eyes on the couple.  Sure enough, Boomer reached out and drew Romani's chin up so she was facing him and kissed her.  A moment later, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the embrace.

   Tael cheered and whizzed happily through the air, and Tatl's glow brightened.  "Y'know, Link," she said, as the Hylian grinned happily to himself.  "You've done a lot of good things since you've come here, but I think this might be the best."

   "Y'know Tatl," he replied, starting to turn back towards the camp, "I think you may be right."

   That was when the horn signaling an attack sounded through the air.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   By the time Link had reached the camp, it had been thrown into chaos.  Huts and buildings were on fire, people were screaming, and an army of mercs, Dinoflos, and other dark creatures where tearing a path through the camp, rounding up the rebels.  They seemed to want to take the people alive.  Link didn't even want to think about the reasons.  "Tatl, Tael!  Find Cremia, help her with the evacuation!  Save everybody you can!  Move, MOVE!"

   The fairies didn't question him, they just flew off into the night, occasionally distracting mercs long enough for rebels to flee or fight back.  Link drew his sword and charged into the enemy ranks, striking left and right, killing and maiming every foe he came into contact with.  This was no time for finesse; his only concern right now was saving lives.

   He fought for what seemed like hours, from one end of the camp to another, freeing hostages and striking down enemies.  As he struck down a lumbering Gibido, Link saw Rankish and Scrat leading the children towards the back entrance, fighting back several attackers.  Link rushed to their aid, and in a matter of seconds they were in the clear.  "Rankish, Scrat, get the kids out of here!  I'll cover your retreat!"

   The old sewer hermit nodded and began ushering the crying children into the trees.  Rankish grabbed hold of Link's arm and said, "Link, it was Uvan!  He's been a spy from the beginning!  I saw him run up to the cliff with a keese…he must be signaling for pirate reinforcements from the water!  If he reaches them they'll be able to circle around the back!"

   Link swore harshly.  "Alright, just take care of the kids.  I'll stop Uvan." And with that he sprinted away, battling his way to the cliff.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Kafei fought his way through the camp, desperately searching for his family.  He let nothing stand in his way, killing every enemy that came to meet him.  Anju and Kayla had been prisoners before because he had not been there to help them.  He'd be damned if he let that happen again.

   He watched in horror as his people were rounded up like cattle, watched as they were led back into slavery, and his heart froze.  First he would find Anju and his children.  Then he would kill the traitorous Uvan.  And then he would kill Ganon and every last one of his horde.

   It was an impossible dream, but Kafei clung to it with all his hope.

   Finally, he saw Anju standing against the wall of a hut.  She was doing her best to fight back her two attackers with an old fire poker, swinging it back forth, forcing the men to keep their distance.  With a ferocious yell, Kafei leapt to his wife's aid, striking down both attackers.  "Are you hurt?" he asked frantically, taking her into his arms and pulling around the corner.  "Where are the kids?"

   "I'm alright," she told him, holding him close.  "Jon and Kayla are with Scrat and the other children, as planned.  Now let's go, we need to escape!"

   "No," Kafei told her staring into her eyes.  "You escape.  I need to stay and fight."

   "No Kafei, they'll kill you!" Anju pleaded.  "We've lost!  There's no way we can win this fight.  But if you escape, you and Link can…"

   "I will not leave my people again!" he barked in response.  A loud crash prompted him to peer around the corner, and he another group of mercenaries heading their way.  Turning back to Anju, who was now crying and tugging on his arm, he kissed her hard on the lips.  "Run into the forest and meet up with the others," he told her, turning around to meet the attack when it came.  "I'll hold them off."

   But he never got a chance to do so.  A sharp pain shot through the back of his head and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.  Anju stood above him, the poker in her hands.  "I'm sorry," she sobbed, dragging his prone form behind a woodpile and doing her best to conceal it.  "I'm sorry…"

   She had only just finished hiding him when a familiar and unwelcome face appeared around the corner.  "'Allo Anju," Smitts grinned wolfishly.  "Long time no see…"

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Another merc fell as Romani's arrow lodged itself in his throat.  She quickly fitted another onto her string and loosed it as another merc approached.  Boomer was a few yards ahead her, fighting off a burly Termanian merc with his sword.  As soon as the warning horn had sounded they had followed Link to the battle and had joined in as best they could.  Escaping into the woods as Link had planned for such an attack never once crossed their minds, and the young lovers stood side by side against the encroaching foe.

   Boomer struck down his adversary and turned to face her.  "Are you alright?"

   "I'm fine," she responded, "But I'm almost out of arrows."

   "Don't worry," he told her, heading towards one of the weapon houses.  "There'll be some in here…" Before he could finish the thought, Rocky burst through the door, running for dear life.  He grabbed hold of Boomer and Romani and dived behind a woodpile.  Boomer looked up to watch as several mercs started to follow, but an instant later the whole building exploded.

   "I set off all the bombs and trapped them in there," Rocky explained.  "C'mon, everything ahead of here is under their control!  We gotta get out of here!"

   "No way!" Boomer protested.  "We've got to stay and fight!  Those mercs…"

   "Have already captured everyone else," Rocky urged.  "Now come on!  If we can get to the docks we can take a boat out to the coast and meet up with anybody else who escaped, as planned."

   "No," Boomer exclaimed.  "We've got to find…"

   "Link!" Romani pointed off into the distance towards the far side of camp.  Through the haze they could just see Link sprinting up towards the cliff.

   "What in the gods' name is he doing?" Boomer questioned.

   "Saving our butts!" Rocky replied.  "Now let's…"

   "We'll be able to get to the cliff from the water if we take one of the boats," Boomer exclaimed as if it were his idea.  "We've gotta see what he's doing.  He may need our help."  Boomer grabbed Romani by the hand and began running back the way they'd came.  Rocky sighed in exasperation and followed.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Link dashed up towards the cliff, wondering how things could have come to this, how everything the rebels had accomplished could be erased so easily, how he hadn't even considered that there might be a traitor in their midst.  He should have known it was Uvan.  The gamesman was loud, unruly, always question every decision that didn't come from him, always trying to take command away from Kafei or whoever else was in charge.  It should have been obvious.  Link couldn't believe he hadn't seen it coming.  But after all his years of fighting, he still believed that people were essentially good, that they could be trusted.

   Now his mistake might cost them all their lives.

   Sure enough, when he reached the cliff he saw Uvan's large, bulky form sitting there, a couple of keese circling overhead.  "The game is up, Uvan," Link told him, approaching slowly.  When the other man didn't answer, Link shouted, "Do you have any idea what you've done?  What your greed and envy has cost us?"  He grabbed hold of Uvan's shoulder and spun him around, and gasped when he saw a dagger protruding from the man's throat.  Hearing a rustle behind him, Link spun around only to have a heavy fist smash into his face.  He fell back onto the ground, seeing stars.  His attacker didn't relent, however.  He kicked Link viciously in the ribs several times, kicking him back closer to the edge of the cliff.  Link was gasping for air by the time the attacker had finished, and when his vision finally cleared, he got a good look at his attacker.

   "No…" he gasped.  "It can't be…"

   Standing above him, smirking triumphantly, was Rankish.  Behind him stood a large group of Ganon's men, laughing and pointing down at him.  "Sorry Link," Rankish said.  "But you really should choose your friends more carefully.  For the Hero of Time, you're far, far, to innocent."

   "Rankish…" Link gasped, struggling to his knees.  "How do you…how…"

   "How do I know about your role as the Hero of Time?" the traitor finished as he kicked Link in the stomach, sending him back to the ground.  "Damn, kid, they were talking about you back in my day."

   "I'm not exactly sure how caught up you are on Sheikah history," an all-too familiar voice said from behind Rankish.  "But thousands of years ago, during the war with Necron, the entire Sheikah race was defeated by one man.  This man, as a matter of fact: the Sheikah known as Krishna."

   Ganon stepped into view beside the traitor, the hulking form of Skorn following close behind.  "As evil and despicable as he is," Ganon continued, "Necron rewards loyalty and recognizes usefulness.  As such, whenever he made his little jaunts between realms to replenish his health, he took our friend Krishna along for the ride.  Having a Sheikah at your side is always useful, as I'm sure you can attest to, so when you freed me from my prison, I brought him with me.  Had you not been buried under rubble, I'm sure you would have seen."

   Link had finally managed to get to his feet.  He glared at the evil trio with more hatred than he had ever felt in his entire life.  "Where's Scrat?" he asked the traitorous Sheikah.  "What have you done with the kids?"

   "Oh, the rat man?" Krishna replied as he kicked Uvan's body over the side of the cliff.  "He's lying in the woods somewhere, either dead or unconscious, I'm not sure how hard I hit him.  As for the kids…" he grinned devilishly.  "Why, two of them are right here."

   He stepped aside to reveal Jon and Kayla struggling in the clutches of two large Dinoflos.  At Ganon's nod, they were released, and they ran into Link's arms.  "We're sorry, Mr. Link," Kayla cried.  "We didn't mean to mess up…"

   "I tried to fight 'em, but they were too big…"Jon sobbed into his chest.

   "It's not your fault kids," Link assured them, patting them on the head.  "I'm very proud of both of you.  You've been very brave."

   "As touching as this is," Ganon interrupted, "We really must be going.  I'm going to conquer three worlds tomorrow night, and I need my beauty sleep."  With that, the two Dinoflos pulled the kids away and held them fast.  Ganon grinned even wider and turned to his half-brother.  "Skorn, you know what to do."

   The giant nodded, though he did not look particularly happy.  He moved to take off the stolen Golden Gauntlets, but Ganon stopped him.  "No, no," the Dark Lord cooed, wagging a finger.  "Leave them on.  Just pull your punches as best you can."

   Skorn nodded somberly and stepped up to Link.  The Hero of Time had to crane his neck to do so, but he met Skorn's gaze.  "Close your eyes, kids," he told Jon and Kayla.  "And no matter what happens, don't blame yourselves.  It's not your fault."

   Ganon shook his head at Link as if he were a child.  "No, no, no Link.  Children need to grow up sometime.  I myself had killed a man by the time I was the boy's age.  I think this will be a great character-building experience.  Open your eyes, children, or I will do terrible—terrible—things to your mother."  He shot Link a sadistic grin.

   "Do as he says, kids," Link snarled through his teeth.

   "Brother," Skorn started, a strange look on his face.  "I do not think…"

   "No, you do not think," Ganon interrupted, a brief flash of anger in his eyes.  "You do what I say.  And I say…begin!"

   Skorn hesitated for a half a second, then nodded.  Turning back to Link and grabbing by the front of his battle gear, he whispered, "I am sorry, Hero.  This is not how I would have it."

   "Just get it over with," Link growled defiantly fists clenched proudly at his side.

   With a small nod, Skorn coiled back his arm and landed the first blow.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   From their vantage point below the cliff, Boomer, Romani, and Rocky saw every blow the giant landed on Link.  Romani buried her head in Boomer's shoulder to stifle her cries, and the two young men could only stare up in horror.  "Why isn't he fighting back?" Boomer breathed.  "He can take them…"

   "There must be hostages or something else holding him back," Rocky offered.  "He wouldn't want them to get hurt."

   "It's not fair," Romani sobbed.  "How could anyone betray us?  We were winning…winning!  All we needed was one more day…" Boomer kissed her lightly on the top of the head and held her close.

   Rocky merely sighed and looked across the water to where Uvan's body floated to the surface.  "I think a day may be all we have left."

   "Look!" Boomer exclaimed, pointing up to the cliff.  "They've stopped.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   Broken, bloodied, and barely conscious, Link collapsed to the ground, fighting desperately to stay awake.  Every breath felt like fire in his lungs, every twitch sent pain through his entire body.  But he would not pass out.  He would not give Ganon the satisfaction.

   "Enough," the Dark Lord commanded, and Skorn backed away, the Gauntlets stained with Link's blood.  "Bring out the chains."

   Before he could even register what was happening, Link was bound hand and foot to a heavy metal ball, two heavy padlocks securing the chains around his wrists and his ankles.  As fuzzy as his perceptions were, he could guess what would happen next.

   Ganon stepped up to where he lay and crouched down so that he was almost eye level.  "And so ends the Hero of Time," he said so softly that only Link could hear.  "It has been a remarkable journey, but like all good things, it must come to an end.  But I want you to know something: it has been an honor fighting you.  It truly has.  They say a hero is only as good as his enemies.  If that is the case, than I must be the greatest hero to have ever lived.  I don't hand out praise easily, but there it is.  I hope you're honored.  I know I would be."  With one final nod at Skorn he backed away, and watched as his half-brother lifted the bound and broken man and threw him over the edge and into the waters below.  Ganon watched as the body vanished into the murky waters, and watched a little more as three lone figures on a little rowboat rowed out to the spot where Link had vanished, two of them diving in after him.

   Krishna stepped up beside him, a crossbow in his hand.  "Want me to take care of them?"

   Ganon thought for a minute, then replied, "No.  I have taken their home, their hope, their hero, and tomorrow I will most likely take their lives.  I see no reason to add insult to injury this night."  With that, he turned around, leading his men back down the slope, the sobs of two young children the only sounds worth hearing.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   "Anything?" Romani asked frantically as Boomer and Rocky came up for air.

   "Nothing!" Rocky gasped.  "It's too dark to see anything, and the water's too deep."  Nevertheless, a moment later they both dove back into the water and searched again.

   Though she didn't want to admit it, Romani couldn't help but recognize the hopelessness of the situation.  No one could have survived the beating they had given him, and even if he had, he had been bound and chained to a heavy weight; there was no way he could have swam away.

   "When they come up again, I'll tell them to stop," Romani told herself miserably, fiercely wiping away more tears.  "I won't lose them too…"

   As if in answer to her thoughts, a strong, taped hand with a heavy chain around it shot out of the water and clutched the other side of the boat, almost tipping the boat.  Romani gasped in shock, then clutched at the arm, pulling Link up into the boat, yelling for Boomer and Rocky to surface.  When he was in she checked his breathing, and while it was slow and hoarse, he had a steady pulse.  The chains that had bound his legs were gone, though the ones on his wrists remained.  Jammed into the padlock was a small hairpin.  Somehow, despite his injuries—or maybe in spite of them—Link had managed to pick the locks, though the effort had nearly killed him.  Tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy as she once again marveled at the strength of the man before her.

   But after tonight, she couldn't help but wonder, how much of that strength would he have left?

   As soon as the others were in the boat they began to row to the coast and the rendezvous point, doing their best to put as much distance as possible between them and the horrors of the night.